Beverage dispensing device



Jul 14, 1936.

-O. A. OLSEN BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1934 2 SheetsSheet l @MMW INVENTOR July 14, 1936. o. A. OLSEN BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed April 27, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY l m A ORNZ Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" v BEVERAGE DISPENSING DEVICE Oscar A. Olsen, Huntington,

N. Y., assignor to Paul Bruning, John N. Ledbetter, Knud Murck,

and Albert Roren Application April 27, 1934, Serial No. 722,611

5 Claims.

erage dispensing device in the form of a relatively small compact unit suitable for operative attachment to a beverage container.

Another object'is to provide a unit; apparatus or machine of the type set forth especially adapted for use in combination with standard beer kegs or containers.

Still another object is to provide such a device including certain improved measures for safe operation. Other objects will appear as this specification proceeds.

Accordingly the invention is embodied in a beverage dispensing device arranged and constructed as hereinafter set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 'is a top plan view of the device.

. Fig.2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device taken on the line 22 of Figure 3.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device looking in the direction of arrow 3 in Figure l with parts in section and parts broken away, showing the device mounted in operative relation to a keg of beer and enclosed within an outer container.

It is proposed to use carbon dioxide ice for dis: pensing and cooling purposes. Such ice is sold commercially in the form of bricks. Thedev'ice therefore includes as a main element an ice box '4 in a form and of dimensions such as will conveniently contain a piece of carbon dioxide ice of a standard size. The ice box also serves as a supporting body for for the other elements of the device. The box is made of metal and suiiiciently strong to withstand the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas resulting from the natural "sliblimation of the ice. The box is closed pressure tight by any suitable means such as a cover 5 clamped on tight by a clamp B and screw 1, a gasket]! 'being provided for tight closure, see Figure 1 The ice box is provided with a suitable pressure gage Bifo'r registering the pressure within the box. The numeral 120 denotesa bleerlervalve and l I is a "safety valv both acommmicaizlng with the interior of the ice box. The bleeder valve is con-- --structed similar to the bleedervalvela, see Figure 2. The valve comprises a valve body; .;l3 adapted to be attached by screw-ingit into the ice .box. Inside the valve body there is a needle valve l4 seated under pressure of a spring l5 toclose the opening 43 the valve. .A screw cap I! closes the valve :andefiordsmeans ior varying the diaphragm. An incoming excess of pressure the tension of the spring 15 to adjust or set the valve for a predetermined pressure.

The safety valve H, see Figure 3, comprises a valve body adapted to be attached by screwing it on to the ice box. The valve body is hollow 5 and communicates with the interior of the ice box. [8 is a membrane of suitable material'which closes the upper end of the valve and is held in place by an open cap [9. The membrane is so designed that when a given excessive pressure 10 exists within the ice box, the membrane will blow out and permit the escape of the gas.

On top of the ice box there is mounted a reducing valve unit 20 having a leg 2| secured to the ice box by screws 23. The reducing valve body 24 forms a valve chamber 25 having an inlet 26, Figure 3, in the aforesaid leg 2|. The inlet 26 leads into the ice box chamber 21. The valve has an outlet at 28. There is a vertical passage 29 within the leg 2| from the inlet 26 which com municates at the top with a horizontal passage 30 which through a boss 3| leads into thevalve chamber, see Figure 2. 5

The inlet passage 29 is closed at the top by an adjustable valve 32, the valve passage in turn being closed by an outside cap. The inner end of the horizontal passage has screwed into it an apertured valve seat nipple 33 the aperture 34 of which is closed by a needle valve '35 adjustably supported in a boss 36. The latter forms the one 30 end of a floating yoke 31 within the valve chamher. The other end of said yoke forms a flange 38 and between the flange and the valve body there is mounted a bellows diaphragm 39.

The yoke 31 is held in position by the boss '36 which slides in the valve cover 40 and a spring 41 tends to force the yoke in one direction to cause the needle valve 35 to close the passage 34. The tension of the spring is regulated by a screw 42. The other end of the yoke is held in position 10 by the diaphragm and a spring 44 whichbears against the yoke and is adjustably held by ascrew 43 in the dome cap which closes the other end of the valve chamber. g

It will be seen therefore that carbon dioxide gas resulting from the sublimation within the ice box passes upward through the passage 29 and then into the valve chamber through the passage 30. The flow of gas is controlled first by the valve 32 and secondly by the operation of the needle a valve 35. The reduction in pressure may be controlled to a very fine point by adjusting the two opposed springs 4| and 44 in combination with the bleeder valve I2.

acts against the diaphragm 39 to close the needle valve.

Into the valve until 20 there is screwed a cross connection 41 which has four openings or passages. One branch 48 leads to the valve chamber outlet 28. Another, directly opposite, leads to A third branch 49 connects with a gage 50 and the fourth branch 5| leads toj a flexible hose 52. To the other endofthe'latter there is secured a standard coupling 53, Figure 3 which forms the male member of a standard'*- coupling as such does not contain a check valve,

the'latter may be inserted; at some other point-in the flexible hose' between' the reducing valve unit and the beverage containers. 7 I

- The standard valve members 53 and 55 are illustrated conventionally; because such standard valves may be purchased in the open market un-. der various trade names. The numeral 65 de-. notes an outer container'having a cover 66. r The beerkeg and the dispensing unit are placedinvalve,

side the outer container; In thepresent instance the dispensing unit is shownresting directly on the beer keg. It may of co-urserest on some support .other thanthe keg. Suitable insulation may bewrapped around the ice box and the outer container may also be insulated on the inside. Such insulation is not illustrated asit forms no part of this invention. 7 v

The operation is as follows. A pieceofcarbon dioxide iceis placed within the ice boxiwhi ch is closed. gas tight and the. bleeder valve H] is adjusted" toregulate the pressure within the'ice'box and which may be observed on the gage"9.' The reducing valve elements having been set toreduce the pressure .to the desired degree, it will be seen thatthe gas then passes from the ice box intojthereducing' valve and then at areduced 7 pressure into the rubber hoseand thence, into the beverage container. 1 r

The'reduced gas pressure is of course observableon the gage 50 and the bleedervalve l2 will be 'set.at the reduced pressure degree. or perhaps slightly higher to insure that gas at no more than. the desired low pressure passes into the beverage container; g in It will therefore. be observed that .the bleeder valvelll controls the pressure within the icebox. thejreducing valve unit controls the reduction of pressure.) The other bleeder yalve' l2 controls the pressure of the gas 'asit' passes into the beverage container. and. the check'valve, 68 prevents the passage of high pressure gas from the container to thereducing valve unit if such shouldoccur. So long a's the pressure in the apparatus remains at the desired low degree gas will pass'through the check valve 60 into the beverage container.

- It is well known in the art that beer is a diflicult beverage'to deal with in respect' to temperature and dispensingandthat great care is required to properlydispense beer. The apparatusherein disclosed has been. tested andlfound to function as-intended. The carbon dioxide gas may-be controlled to a. fine point in the reducing -,valve and perfect safety and control is obtained by means ,of the bleeder valvesand the safety, In addition, of course, both the pressure within the ice box as Well as the tem erature The coupling or male numreducing the gaseous carbon ,dioxideadmitted within the outer containerare controlled by the bleeder valve l0. I

The apparatus herein disclosed is compact in form and economic to manufacture andv operate. The devicemay of course be placed upon or near the beverage container in any suitable'position other than that illustrated. It will also be un:

derstoodthat changes and alterations in the details and in the arrangement of parts maybe made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

1. Aibeverage cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising: a closed refrigerant chamber for the receptionjof solid carbon dioxide, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide liberated by theevaporation of the solid carbon dioxide in said chamber from going beyonda predetermined point, a valve housing in close proximity and adjacent to said-chamberja conduit communicating between said chamber and 'said housing, a valve mechanism in said housing for reducing-the gaseous carbon dioxide admitted thereto to another predetermined pressure, means acting toprevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxidebeing discharged from 7 said housing from going beyondthe 'predeterhousing, at such predetermined reduced pressure through saidsecond-namedconduit for introductioninto" the beverage containing receptacle to cause the beverage to ,be cooled and discharged upon the-opening of the, dispensing faucet. I

' 2. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising a closed refrigerant chamber for the reception of solid carbonjdioxide, Lmeans acting to prevent the pressure of thegaseous carbon, dioxide liberated by the evaporation of the'solid carbon dioxide in" said chambenfrom goingbeyond a" predetermined point, a valve housing in close proximityandadjacent to said'ch'amber, a conduit 'communicatingbetween said chamber and said housing, a'v'alve mechanism in said housingfor thereto to another predetermined pressure, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide-being dischargedfrom said housing from going "beyond the'predetermined point at which it is eniittedfrom said housing, a-second conduit m -communication with said housing for conveying-the gas under said last-named pressure to agreceptacle containing the beverage to be cooled andplaced under the desiredhead of presmined point at which it is emitted fromsaid sure for discharge, through, a dispensing faucet, 4

and'meansin said second conduit for permitting the flow of gas -therethrough'in only one direction whereby-"the: gaseous carbon dioxide passes from said; chamber under a" predetermined pressure {through said'firs't-named conduit'to said housing); 1 to be reducedtherein "to another predetermined pre ssuref andfr'omsaid housing at such prede- ..terim ined reduced pressure through said I second- 7 named conduit for introduction into the beverage containing receptacle to cause the beverage to be cooled and discharged upon the opening of the dispensing faucet.

3. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising a closed refrigerant chamber for the reception of solid carbon dioxide, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide liberated by the evaporation of the solid carbon dioxide in said chamber from going beyond a predetermined point, a valve housing in close proximity and adjacent to said chamber, a conduit communicating between said chamber and said housing, a valve mechanism in said housing for reducing the gaseous carbon dioxide admitted. thereto to another predetermined pressure,

means associated with said valve mechanism for regulating the pressure to which the gaseous carbon dioxide is to be reduced, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide being discharged from said housing from going beyond the predetermined point at which it is emitted from said housing, a second conduit in communication with said housing for conveying the gas under said last-named pressure to a receptacle containing the beverage to be cooled and placed under the desired head of pressure for discharge through a dispensing faucet, and means in said second conduit for permitting the flow of gas therethrough in only one direction whereby the gaseous carbon dioxide passes from said chamber under a predetermined pressure through said first-named conduit to said housing to be reduced therein to another predetermined pressure and from said housing at such predetermined reduced pressure through said secondnamed conduit for introduction into the beverage containing receptacle to cause the beverage to be cooled and discharged upon the opening of the dispensing faucet.

4. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising a closed refrigerant chamber for the reception of solid carbon dioxide, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide liberated by the evaporation of the solid carbon dioxide in said chamber from going beyond a predetermined point a valve housing in close proximity and adjacent to said chamber, said housing having an inlet provided with means for controlling the flow of gaseous carbon dioxide therethrough, a conduit communicating between said chamber and said housing, a valve mechanism in said housing for reducing the gaseous carbon dioxide admitted thereto to another predetermined pressure, an outlet in said housing for the discharge of the gaseous carbon dioxide after being reduced to such predetermined pressure, means associated with said valve mechanism for regulating the pressure to which the gaseous carbon dioxide is to be reduced, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide being discharged from said housing from going beyond the predetermined point at which it is emitted from said housing, and a second conduit in communication with said housing for conveying the gas under said last-named pressure to a receptacle containing the beverage to be cooled and placed under the desired head of pressure for discharge through a dispensing faucet, whereby the gaseous carbon dioxide passes from said chamber under a predetermined pressure through said first-named conduit to said housing to be reduced therein to another predetermined pressure and from said housing at such predetermined reduced pressure through said second-named conduit for introduction into the beverage containing receptacle to cause the beverage to be cooled and discharged upon the opening of the dispensing faucet.

5. A beverage cooling and dispensing apparatus comprising a closed refrigerant chamber for the reception of solid carbon dioxide, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide liberated by the evaporation of the solid carbon dioxide in said chamber from going beyond a predetermined point, a valve housing in close proximity and adjacent to said chamber, said housing having an inlet provided with means for controlling the flow of gaseous carbon dioxide therethrough, a conduit communicating between said chamber and said housing, a valve mechanism in said housing for reducing the gaseous carbon dioxide admitted thereto to another predetermined pressure, an outlet in said housing for the discharge of the gaseous carbon dioxide after being reduced to such predetermined pressure, means associated with said valve mechanism for regulating the pressure to which the gaseous carbon dioxide is to be reduced, means acting to prevent the pressure of the gaseous carbon dioxide being discharged from said housing from going beyond the predetermined point at which it is emitted from said housing, a second conduit in communication with said housing for conveying the gas under said last-named pressure to a receptacle containing the beverage to be cooled and placed under the desired head of pressure for discharge through a dispensing faucet, and means in said second conduit for permitting the flow of gas therethrough in only one direction whereby the gaseous carbon dioxide passes from said chamber under a predetermined pressure through said first-named conduit to said housing to be reduced therein to another predetermined pressure and from said housing at such predetermined reduced pressure through said secondnamed conduit for introduction into the beverage containing receptacle to cause the beverage to be cooled and discharged upon the opening of the dispensing faucet.

OSCAR A. OLSEN. 

